Question of the Week: 59 - 9/11/2001911 America: Talking Through The Terror...Talking Through The Terror... And helping each other cope with the tragedies that struck at the very heart of the United States. The Witches Voice has opened up this forum in order that Pagans may express their thoughts on the terrorist attacks that took place in NYC and DC on September 11th. As the full realization of what happened and the toll numbers begin to come in, Americans have many challenges ahead.

What are your thoughts on these incidents? How are you feeling? Feel free to post any magickal workings or other support gatherings planned in your area.

WebNote 9/16/2001: Since we launched this on 911 this forum as become laced with powerful inspiration and critical information, feel free to use the search functions on your left to better define the info you are looking for. Search for your area, famous Pagans, key words etc. Also check Wren's Nest News for the latest news related to our community.

Reading through the most recent posts here have become a sort of ritual throughout the day for me. And, I must say, I am not surprised at much of what I have read. While our nation is in a crisis and innocent blood has stained our land, I see so many pagans doing what the public thinks pagans do best...talk about themselves. Who cares that thousands of people had their lives cut short by evil terrorists? Bush read a sentence of a Christian psalm in his address! Forget the firefighters, policemen, and other normal folks who gave up their lives-and are still risking them-to help the victims of these attacks. No one has come out and said, "The pagan community is saddened by this." on CNN!

At times like this, I had hoped that the pagan community could stop purposely making themselves "different" and rally behind the other religious communities of the nation. Is it really that awful that our prayer vigils are not shown constantly on the news channel? Is it really a tragedy that Tom Brokaw has not interviewed distraught pagans? This is not the time to wage a PR-campaign on America-this is the time to help the victims and concentrate on keeping our country strong. Why must we only be pagans, Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, or anything else right now, and demand that people see us as such? Isn't just being American enough?

As I was driving to run some errands on Tuesday morning I was listening to a local radio station as one of the personalities mentioned that one of the WTC towers was apparently hit by a small plane. At first I thought they were setting us all up for some kind of joke or prank, as radio stations sometimes do, but this seemed just too crazy to me. I ran to a convenience store for my morning soda and while driving further I heard that the second tower was hit my another plane. That's when it really hit me that this was a huge incident. As I drove home I listened in terror as the radio talked about the pentagon being hit by yet another plane, and tears filled my eyes as I sped home to turn on the TV. At this time the radio was simulcasting ABC TV's coverage. By now the first Tower crumbled to the ground! I ran up the stairs to my apartment and saw the remaining WTC tower burning and people running around in terror on the streets below. Peter Jennings was talking about people falling to their deaths from the 110 story tower as they jumped out the windows. I then witnessed on live television the second tower collapse! Words cannot express the horror and disbelief I felt as they replayed again and again the plane crashing into the tower. The images are burned into my brain forever. I know everyone in the country will be able to say where they were when the twin towers fell to the ground....just like almost 40 years ago people remember where they were, what they were doing when JFK was murdered. My thoughts, prayers, and energies go out to the victims' families and friends. I am fortunate enough to not personally know anyone killed in this horrible tragedy on humanity, but that in no way lessens my sorrow. I am a bard by nature and by trade. A musician and poet, and sensitive to all the feelings people have, and I am in pain along with the rest of the world, and like the rest of the world I will go on. I will give blood today, and at my performance tonight I will ask the patrons to give blood, and mmonetary donations to the Red Cross, and encourage the people to help any way they can and to hold their heads high and be proud! I am so inspired by the rallying of the people across this country, America, to help those in need. This is the spirit that gave birth to this great nation! Let's keep it alive and strong!!!Bright Blessings to all!!

Sometime In The Near Future All The Pagans & Wiccans On Witchvox And...

Sometime in the near future all the pagans & wiccans on witchvox and elsewhre in the world should plan a ritual for protection & healing on a certain day and time to focus all together at the same moment

i happen to agree with pandora in the fact that We should "act" every pagan path has gods of war, revenge, and death hecate a well known witch goddess is also a goddess of black magic. are we not children of the earth. shouldn't we fight for our earth who has given us so much. i do believe in the three fold law but there are times when rules have to be put aside for a greater cause. i for one have no place to go if the terriost start boming around virginia closer to my town i am pretty much @#!*ed i'm to young to run off because my parents can call the police on me. and there is the wonderful wartime developments of nuclear and germ warfare. that will kill people and the earth this is the only planet we can live on in our solar system so lets stop this before it blows up in our face. our pagan ancesters used the war qualities of the gods in time of war and is this not war. i have done a few white witch things but like i said i'm not finished

Call For Words!!!!! For Disaster Relief-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Below Is An Email I Sent...

CALL FOR WORDS!!!!! FOR DISASTER RELIEF-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Below is an email I sent to Kinkos after seeing Donna's story. Kamui and I have been writing and sharing poems and prose with each other this week as well. I have sent word to my father and sister asking for cover art and other contributions.

Please, please let me know if any of you would like to contribute, whether it's writing, art, advice, selling copies, etc.

> >===== Original Message From Kerrie Colantonio >=====>I have worked with the Copley Square Boston Kinkos in the past for my self-published book. Right now I would like to ask a special favor. I know several authors who I would like to contact regarding a special benefit publication of our writing to benefit the Disaster Relief from Tuesday's tragedy. I would like to ask you first, however, if you will donate services>and the resulting publication free of charge. I would say I'd pay for it myself, but I could also donate that money and any other funds raised if this favor was granted. I don't have much myself, but can charge the equivalent of cost via credit card if desired. Please, I feel helpless here in Bosotn, with>the fear that this was the starting point and may still be dngerous. I feel helpless that I cannot donate blood as I am underweight. I would like to do something meaningful to many. Can you be of any assistance in this matter?>Please, I beg of you, let me know, as soon as possible how this can come to fruition. Thank you, and I hope you are all well and safe where this is received.>>Kerrie Colantonio>Penny-A-Page Publishing>>>>Kerrie,>>In response to your e-mail, we invite you to come down to our branch and speak with Carolyn Francis, our manager at the branch. You, then, will need to explain in detail what your job entails. We would like to assist you in this difficult time, but we need to know the specifics of this project (e.g.>>how many copies and how many pages.) We wish you well in your endeavor.>>Thank you,>Callie Chapman Korn>Kinkos, Copley

Last night we lit candles, we had planned on it before they asked for a national candle light vigil. We lit two on our front porch. We lit five at the points of the pentagram flower garden I am forming in our back yard. The candles on the front porch burned down around 10:00. The candles around the pentagram are still burning as I write this. I drummed at the pentagram for an hour before going to bed. I know my neighbors probably think me mad. It made both me and my wife feel better, after this horrible week. There is truly magick in the world.

This whole thing has thoroughly shocked and saddened me, and words have failed me until now. Now that my mind is beginning to wrap itself around the magnitude of what happened, I have some thoughts and suggestions for the Pagan community at large.

Although it is true that America was attacked, this horror has global implications. Americans are now living in a different country, whether they understand it or not. We will never return to the freewheeling openness that was the USA on Monday. In a very unhappy way, we have joined the global community at large. I am a USAF veteran, and I have lived overseas, and have seen the aftermath of what terrorists can do: the destruction of the City of London from an IRA bomb; scars on my military colleagues from the 1981 Heidelberg car bomb at USAFE headquarters, the intense grief of losing military friends and colleagues in the Pan Am Lockerbie bombing. I have lived in places where it was strongly suggested that blending in was the best protection an American visitor could do so as not to become a target for terrorists. I have done this.

It is sad to see such wariness descending on what we considered a 'safe' place in the world. Bombs and terror were for 'other' countries- we could watch the whole thing on TV and then go to the movies and watch aliens blow up Manhattan. Not any more. These people lived among us, were 'sleepers' in the most terrifying sense, and were indistinguishable from any other immigrant or long term visitor. We must learn to combine an awareness of 'off' behavior with tolerance for difference. Most people will not be able to pull this off gracefully. We must be prepared for a restriction of our privacy and some of our freedoms. And we must be prepared to stoutly defend our own 'difference' from those who believe that only a religiously monolithic country will stand.

We are a magickal community, and have 'connections' to capabilities and understandings that the world at large does not have. I suggest that we cultivate our gifts- create and sustain an egregorical community that serves to protect one and all, Pagan and not, from the both the physical and the psychological terror that has come to our shores. An Egregore, for those of you new to the Craft and its Kin, is a magickal construct that serves to inform and protect a community. My suggestion is that we tap into the American Egregore, using the Eagle and the Star as its symbol, feed and strengthen it by ritual work and meditation, and build a metaphysical shield around not only America, but also the whole world. Those of us who create both art and ritual are encouraged to do so, and share with us their work.

Our more sensitive members should tune in and try to keep journals of what they feel is happening around the country and perhaps the world. We should ask our creative people to create a symbol of our shield- a solid white upright five-pointed star with an eagleŐs watchful eye in the center on a dark blue background, similar, perhaps to the Eye of Horus, but distinctively American. Those of us who have websites should post this symbol to demonstrate to all visitors that we are a nexus in the protective metaphysical network that is being actively nurtured. The Christians can pray, so can we, and more.

We must be careful not to succumb to infighting or religious bashing no matter where it comes from. Already, fingers have been pointed and we and other kindred have been named by certain religious leaders as the 'cause' of this tragedy, simply because we choose to interpret God and Country in a manner they disapprove of. We must be vigilant not to permit them to sweep us up and vilify us for our differences. The shield is as much for our protection as it is for this country and planet. We must stand together, or we will fall apart and truly achieve the goals of the terrorists who began this horror.

We must, in this order, work to weave a web of strength, peace, and healing, connecting first to God/dess, our families, friends, community, country and planet. We must never forget that we are greater than any evil done to us, and must make each act an affirmation of our humanity. We must not surrender to hysteria, rumor, hatred, or misinformation. We must become Warriors of Light, walking in strength in the footsteps of the Mighty Ones.

This terror has been a tragic test of our humanity and strength. My hope and prayer is that we will emerge from this darkness and this crucible better than we were, and pass this test of trouble and horror. We each must serve as anchors of Light, Life, and Love.

I'm British and I wish I could help more. I can't seem to do a thing. I can't donate blood because of a tattoo I've had done a while back, I can't travel to help. I can't seem to do anything and I feel very binded.I don't want to Americans or British to go into any war. Every country has enough weapons to destory the world five times over. If we destory these terriosts there will be more. Just when the world was repairing itself humans want to destory it and the innocent people on it.Bring these people to justice by all means but will war be nessercary? Everyone is pointing fingers and blaming others but not taking responisblity for their own actions.I feel for the people who passed away in such a tradgey but once any war starts the loss would be far more painful and greater and may never end. I don't want to see my friends go off to anywar and not return. No one wants that.England has not been involved by now but we are Americas closest allie and hold a debt to them due to help in World War 2. I fear its gone to far for any talks and I fear it will go furthur.I just wish and hope no war starts. This world has seen enough and shes still suffering due to the previous wars. Shes getting old and needs care in her years not more pain.

First off, I'm glad that I was told of this site!! Its so beautifully done. Here are my thoughts about the tragedy on Tuesday...I'm a teacher's assitant in special ed, and we were on a field trip when it happened. Being a very emotional person, I felt tears in my eyes as me and the teacher listened in the car radio as to what was happening. I cried for the children who would now be fatherless/motherless, for the people on the planes and the terror they must have felt in those last moments on our Earth, and for the people who are evil enough to do this. But there is a ray of light-people are coming together and American pride is stronger than ever!! I saw teenagers with two huge flags flying from the sides of their truck, I see vibrant flags hanging from store fronts, from places of worship...I saw the children at my school sing "America the Beautiful" yesterday in a circle of love, and it gave me goosebumps. This tells us we are a good people, and we need to get back to our roots-taking care of our Mother Earth, taking care of each other, taking care of ourselves....Hopefully this will make us an even more stronger country, and us an even more stronger people!!

BLESSED BE!!

Blessings To All, I Have Only Now Come To Witchvox To See...

Sep 15th. at 10:21:42 am UTC

Fay (Parkman, Maine US)

Age: 35

Blessings to all,

I have only now come to Witchvox to see what has been happening in my spiritual community. I have read many words of wisdom and comfort. Thank you for that. For those of you who begin to follow the path of hatred, PLEASE, I ask you to look into your heart and remember the most powerful magic in this world and all worlds is LOVE.

I pray to the Lord and Lady for peace, for healing, and strength to act in LOVE.

I'm not going to say that I'm perfect, in fact I did feel a great deal of rage towards those who dared to conduct such a dishonourable act. When I calmed down a bit, the night it happened, I held a ritual for the spirits of those who had died in the attacks to give them comfort, and remind them that they won't be forgotten. I also (see what I mean by rage) gave a blessing of protection to the soldiers who would fight these monsters. What I must say is this: we must stand together in this time, as any sign of what is deemed unpatriotic by any zealots could be the downfall of the many. As Starhawk said, in a violent society, when you anger such a society, they will want to lash out in a brutal fashion. When I heard that collateral damage (the hitting of civilian, nonmilitary targets for those who don't know) might be ignored, I was shocked and voiced that the same day in my history class. It's one thing for this nation to get retribution, find the people who did this, and punish them as it is their right to, but the level a whole town just to get at one terrorist? All I must say is that we must stand together in this time, but do what we must in the case of when this country gets out of hand and starts harming innocent people.

Bright Blessings,

Rilluin Curusul (Formerly known as Daibhidh ap Scathach)

Attention All Toronto Area Pagans: Usually, I Wouldn't Post A Reminder Of...

Sep 15th. at 9:46:13 am UTC

Moon Lynx (Toronto, Ontario CA)

Age: 38

Attention all Toronto area Pagans: Usually, I wouldn't post a reminder of tonights raising of healing energy, but I will for 2 reasons. 1) I hadn't thought of it before, but there are some communities where there is only one Wiccan! I feel like part of a friendly, welcoming community, and there are those who don't have such a thing! I never knew how blessed I was. While I am well aware that we are not part of the mainstream, still, I wouldn't want to be totally ignored. Luckily, the Wiccan faith tends to draw people of independent mind who can deal with being solitary, or be able to do what they do with no fanfare. But at times like this, you tend to want to share with others And 2) There are now over 700 (!) opinions posted. For those who are solitary: You are not alone! The original energy raising information and details is opinion number 466, so instead of making you go through all those pages I will copy it onto my opinion (the suggestion for this was from Tamryn SilverCrow):

This all being said, I propose that the Pagan community in Toronto gather on Saturday, September 15th at 7:00 to raise healing energy for the victims of this tragedy and their family. The gathering will be at (and wouldn't you know I can't find the name of the park for love nor money) the park just south of Lympstone, which is 1 block south of Yonge and Lawrence on the East side. It is easily accessible by TTC (Lawrence station). (it's the park between Lympstone and Chatsworth on the east side).

I have checked with the various organizations and what is need the most right now is money, so a collection will be set up and taken to the Red Cross to help with the relief efforts.

For those not in the Toronto area, perhaps spread the word and arrange for gatherings in your community at the same time. Lets combine our efforts to raise as much healing energy we can.

As it is starting to get dark earlier now, please bring candles and/or flashlights.

Please pass the word to as many people you can.

PS: True to our faith, I have seen many who, while acknowledging their rage, have not set out plans to "get" who did this horrific thing

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